HOUSE FILE 107

BY  ABDUL-SAMAD

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to a foreign language requirement at the elementary school level and including an effective date provision.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  Section 256.11, subsection 3, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  The following areas shall be taught in grades one through six:  English-language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, health, age-appropriate and research-based human growth and development, physical education, traffic safety, music, and visual art. The health curriculum shall include the characteristics of communicable diseases including acquired immune deficiency syndrome.  At least one foreign language shall be taught in grades one through six in school districts. The state board as part of accreditation standards shall adopt curriculum definitions for implementing the elementary program.
   Sec. 2.  FOREIGN LANGUAGE FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS —— SCHOOL DISTRICT PLAN.  The board of directors of each school district shall develop and implement a plan to teach at least one foreign language in grades one through six by the school year beginning July 1, 2013.
   Sec. 3.  STATE MANDATE FUNDING SPECIFIED.  In accordance with section 25B.2, subsection 3, the state cost of requiring compliance with any state mandate included in this Act shall be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under section 257.16. This specification of the payment of the state cost shall be deemed to meet all of the state funding-related requirements of section 25B.2, subsection 3, and no additional state funding shall be necessary for the full implementation of this Act by and enforcement of this Act against all affected school districts.
   Sec. 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  The section of this Act amending section 256.11, subsection 3, takes effect July 1, 2013.
EXPLANATION
   This bill requires school districts to develop and implement a plan to teach at least one foreign language in grades one through six by the school year beginning July 1, 2013. The provision that amends the educational standards to require school districts to teach at least one foreign language in grades one through six takes effect July 1, 2013.
   The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The bill requires that the state cost of any state mandate included in the bill be paid by a school district from state school foundation aid received by the school district under Code section 257.16. The specification is deemed to constitute state compliance with any state mandate funding-related requirements of Code section 25B.2. The inclusion of this specification is intended to reinstate the requirement of political subdivisions to comply with any state mandates included in the bill.